The expectations when it comes to the Patriots this season are middle-of-the-road at best. While this roster may not appear capable of winning a Super Bowl or competing for one, a playoff appearance is not an impossible dream.
Every team in the league - including the Patriots - has its flaws, and oftentimes, it takes just one or two leaks to expose the biggest one. While Eliot Wolf did an exceptional job in building a roster set up to help Drake Maye succeed, questions remain.
The biggest one? The infrastructure of New England's offense.
Will the setup of the offense hold the Patriots back this season?
If the Patriots don't make the playoff, this could be among the big reasons why.
Yes, New England's receiving core is better thanks to the additions of Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams, but it's fair to temper expectations just a bit.
Diggs appears to be headed towards the back nine of his career and is coming off a torn ACL, so Patriots fans are a bit pessimistic about whether he's lost a step. Hollins is a big, viable red zone target but has never been more than a No. 3 receiver. Williams was drafted in the third round, and the Patriots haven't had a track record of finding quality receivers in the draft in recent years.
The Patriots could also have two rookies protecting Maye's blind side, and Morgan Moses' age and conditioning have been mentioned during training camp, so his durability remains a question mark.
TreVeyon Henderson is being billed as one of the biggest home-run hitters in this rookie class, but he needs to prove he's worth the hype once the games count. He also needs to stay on the field, and Rhamondre Stevenson needs to resolve his fumbling issues.
The defense will be fine and will keep the Patriots in games, but you can't win if you don't score points. Simple as that. If the offense falls on its face, it could be another long season in Foxborough.
The unit around Maye is better on paper than last year's, but given that it was a 4-13 team with almost no playmakers, there's nowhere to go but up.